Three key projects underway to address challenging issues

We are working to improve government engagement with community and voluntary organisations and citizens in policy and service development processes. The project involves representatives from the community sector and government agencies.

With Philanthropy New Zealand and Volunteering New Zealand, we’re spearheading the Generosity Project to explore ways to inspire individuals and businesses to give time, money or in-kind donations.

We’re working to improve government’s funding and accountability arrangements with community and voluntary organisations. This work will build on initiatives undertaken in other parts of government that impact on specific parts of the sector, such as Pathway to Partnership, which is supporting a sustainable social services NGO sector to deliver services to families, children and young people.

The OCVS-led project will have wide application across all government agencies that fund the community and voluntary sector.

Over the past two decades, Government funding practice has sharpened its focus on accountability. Over 90% of all public funding to community and voluntary groups is now being paid as a contract for service. Many community and voluntary sector organisations report that the contracting culture is counter-productive and undermines the potential for strong working relationships between government and the sector.

This project takes a whole-of-government and whole-of-sector approach to government funding practice and will enable community people and officials to shape issues and good practice. Insights and guidance resulting from the project will be available on an ongoing basis through the Good Practice Funding online resource.